Facing each other for the final time this season, the Ottawa Senators and the Calgary Flames take the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Sportsnet West will broadcast this cross-country matchup, which gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 21.
Ottawa Senators vs. Calgary Flames Odds
Calgary comes into the game as the heavy favorite with a -400 moneyline. The line for Ottawa sits at +310, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
The Flames are 45-28 straight-up (SU) and have netted 9.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the NHL’s second-best so far this season, is a welcomed improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (37-45). Through 73 regular season contests, 38 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. Thus far, the team is 24-12 SU at home.
Calgary has converted on 20.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Calgary has been penalized 3.7 times per game overall this season, 3.4 per game over its past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.9 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Sporting a .911 save percentage and 24.9 saves per game, David Rittich (27-15-5) has been the best option in goal for the Flames this season. If the Flames choose to give him the evening off, however, the team may roll with Mike Smith (20-16-16 record, .896 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm will each be focal points for the Flames. Gaudreau (92 points) has tallied 35 goals and 57 assists and has recorded two or more points on 25 separate occasions this year. Lindholm has 27 goals and 50 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 49 contests.
On the other hand, Ottawa is 25-48 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 38 of its outings have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under the total and just five have pushed. As the away team, Ottawa is 9-28 SU.
Ottawa has converted on 19.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized 3.4 times per game in total this season, 3.6 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (.903 save percentage and 3.52 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson is averaging 30.8 saves per game and owns a 14-30-4 record.
Leading the offensive firepower for the visiting Senators will be Mark Stone (28 goals, 34 assists) and Matt Duchene (27 goals, 31 assists).
Ottawa Senators at Calgary Flames Betting Predictions
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in three of Ottawa’s last five games.
- Ottawa has managed 25.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Calgary is averaging 34.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Six of Ottawa’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-4 in those games.
- Ottawa skaters notched 24.0 hits per game last season, while the Flames accounted for 20.0 hits per matchup.
